WASHINGTON — Center Al Jefferson scored 18 points and 12 rebounds, and guard Brian Roberts added 18 points as the surging Charlotte Hornets defeated the Washington Wizards 92-88 Monday night.
Forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds for the Hornets (21-27). Charlotte led throughout and pushed back any rally attempts by holding their Southeast Division rival to 37 points in the second half.
Guard Bradley Beal had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Wizards (31-18). Washington matched its season-worst, three-game losing streak, and it dropped three in a row at home for the first time this season. Guard John Wall had 16 points and 10 assists.
The Wizards are 9-9 over their past 18 games after starting 22-9. Washington fell to 25-2 when holding opponents under 100 points.
Charlotte is 11-3 since Jan. 3 and 3-1 since learning guard Kemba Walker required surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.
Kidd-Gilchrist’s jumper capped a 10-4 spurt to put the Hornets up 86-78 with 1:44 remaining.
After going without a field goal for a five-minute stretch, Washington surged back. Forward Paul Pierce’s 3-pointer made it 90-88 with 11.9 seconds remaining. Roberts made two free throws with 10.4 seconds left.
Leading 53-51 at halftime, the Hornets opened the third quarter with a 10-0 run, holding the Wizards without a point for nearly six minutes. Washington trailed by at least 12 points in each of its past four games.
Charlotte led 70-58 with 4:54 remaining in the third quarter, but Washington closed the quarter with eight straight points. Beal’s dunk pulled the Wizards within 76-74 with 6:37 left, but then Washington went cold.
Guard Gerald Henderson finished with 17 points and guard Gary Neal 12 for the Hornets, who shot 46.8 percent from the floor. Charlotte held Washington to 40.7 percent shooting from the field.
Forward Kris Humphries scored 13 points and Pierce 11 for Washington. Wizards guard Andre Miller, the oldest NBA player in uniform this season, did not play for the first time this season.
NOTES: Hornets C Bismack Biyombo missed his third consecutive game with a right knee bone bruise. … Wizards F Kris Humphries averaged 12.5 points and 13.3 rebounds off the bench over the previous four games. The reserve big man turned into a fourth-quarter stalwart in that stretch, often playing over starter Marcin Gortat. … By sinking a 3-pointer on his first shot attempt, Wizards F Paul Pierce passed Alex English for 15th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. … The Hornets have used 10 lineups this season, none in more than nine games. … Wizards F DeJuan Blair (illness) was inactive. … Charlotte is off until Thursday, when Washington visits. … The Wizards play at the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.